ATLANTA – Phil Mickelson led the praise for Tiger Woods after the former world number one ended a five-year title-drought with victory at the Tour Championship on Sunday.
Mickelson, who will face Woods in a lucrative head-to-head shoot-out in Las Vegas in November, said he had never doubted that the 14-time major winner would add to his collection of PGA Tour titles.
"He's played such good golf all year that it is just not surprising,” Mickelson said.
"Tiger's played so well on a very difficult golf course and we almost kind of expected it.
"We never doubted he woud not win again, not from what I've seen he's been swinging the club and the way he’s being playing.
"It was just a matter of time.”
Tiger Woods, center, and Rory McIlroy, right, make their way down the 18th fairway during the final round of the Tour Championship with a swam of fans behind them. Photo: John Amis/AP Photo
The victory lifts Woods tally to 80 PGA Tour titles and just three wins shy of becoming the most successful player in the history of the PGA Tour.
Mickelson meanwhile said he is looking forward to joining up with Woods for this week's Ryder Cup in Versailles, despite a disappointing showing in Atlanta which saw him finish on 13 over par.
"It was not the week here I would have liked heading into any big tournament but next week in France is going to be totally different with different grass, different course and different everything so we’ll see," Mickelson said.
"It's going to be a special week and with Patrick (Reed) and I playing together today we were talking about it and it's going to be a fun and exciting week."